Heidi Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on the revelation that Jeremy Hunt may not have the legal power to impose the junior doctors’ contract, said: 

“The Tory Government’s approach to the new junior doctors’ contract now looks to be in complete disarray.

"Government lawyers appear to be trying to rewrite history in an attempt to get Jeremy Hunt out of what could be a very significant legal problem.

"This revelation is crucial because junior doctors have entered into a period of unprecedented industrial action off the back of the Tories’ decision to impose the contract. Rather than trying to clarify the situation, Hunt has stayed quiet and refused to negotiate any further.

“His motives, judgement and competence are now being called into question. If Jeremy Hunt is now claiming he isn’t imposing the contract, then this also raises the prospect that he has misled Parliament.

"Jeremy Hunt needs to urgently clarify whether or not he has the powers to impose a new contract. And if not, the Tories are going to have to answer to the thousands of patients and staff who have suffered months of distress and uncertainty because of the decisions they have taken.”